PLAY OF THE DAY: In July, after taking a long road trip with the Mets and seeing the dysfunctional team up close for 10 days, I wrote the Mets should fire Jerry Manuel and hire Wally Backman. Immediately. Well, it seems that new GM Sandy Alderson may finally implement my game plan, saying the team needs a fiery manager. Backman deserves a second chance and hopefully he’ll get it this week.

Alderson had a manager that was one of the best in the business in San Diego in Bruce Bochy. Evidently Bochy wasn’t “fiery’’ enough for Alderson after taking the Padres to two straight divisional titles. Alderson let Bochy interview then take the Giants managing job in 2006, or perhaps Alderson just wanted a younger manager in Bud Black.

The Padres haven’t been back to the playoffs since and Bochy is running rings around every manager he and the Giants are taking on this postseason. His move of Aubrey Huff (two-run home run) Sunday night to the DH role was magnificent and was the key move of the Giants 4-0 win over the Rangers. Now Bochy needs just one more victory for the Giants to win their first San Francisco World Series and first overall since 1954.

I asked Bochy about Alderson’s hiring by the Mets and he offered these words of praise even though Alderson forced him out the door and into the Giants waiting arms. “I’m happy for Sandy to be able to get back in the GM position,’’ Bochy told me. “He had success at it. He’ll do well there. He knows the game and he’s got a plan on how he wants his guys to play the game, and I’m sure he’s going to implement that plan.’’

Can’t wait to see the plan. The Mets haven’t had one in a long, long time.

PLACE OF THE DAY: I admit it, I like tea. I’m not a coffee guy. Even if you are not a tea guy, Crown & Crumpet is for you at Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco for breakfast or lunch. The view alone is worth the price of the meal. The fresh ingredients are what it is all about, and a big pot of any kind of tea in the world.

I had a bacon, avocado, tomato and brie crumpet and it was fantastic. Sit outside and take in the view and forget all your worries. Maybe the Yankees and Mets should move their organizational meetings there for a day.